First off, it turns out writing your English department alumni profile is the most self-conscious act of grammar policing you'll ever experience. Remember this in ten years when a professor reaches out to you on social media to participate.
I had the privilege of being Geneseo's first Creative Writing track grad back in 2006. The distinction has meant more personally than professionally, though it is a nice one-liner in interviews if you're confident enough in yourself. Regardless the track you choose, the English major is fantastic at getting you to practice critical thinking and written articulation. If you get really good at those things, you'll have near universal utility in the working world. You'll be equally capable at processing the requests of superiors and tasking work for subordinates. You'll also generate opinions based on thought rather than cliché, which is valued in any work environment worth participating in.
My own professional track is not conventional or complete. I spent the near entirety of my twenties working at a nursing home as a Recreation Therapist. My experience there was immensely valuable but not directly related to my degree. In that time, however, I wrote a dozen short stories; two spoken-word albums; numerous short films and two feature-length movies: "Bruce and Dom" and "Brunch: The Movie". I met amazing people and flourished creatively.
When the time came to move on from the nursing home, I reached out to my network of friends and got an interview with Avalanche Studios, a video game developer based in Stockholm with offices in SoHo. It was not the nursing home experience that got me in the door, but the variety of personal projects I had pursued. I've worked there for two years now as a producer and writer for the game Just Cause 3. I also continue to create independently and just finished up producing a ten-episode sketch comedy web series called "Good Clean F---".
If the life I just described sounds appealing to you, just make creative growth a priority throughout your life. Geneseo is the perfect place to build that foundation. Once you're out of school it's critical to learn self-motivation without the threat — or promise — of a grade, but by then you'll be a graduate of an institution that gave you a genuine, rigorous education. Use that momentum to develop your own work habits and make friends with every bright person you can.
I believe very strongly in our shared education and want to help any Geneseo alum I can. Email me at contact@mikevarley.com if you ever have questions or need some New York City connections.